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Area residents are being warned to be on alert this holiday season following an attempted scam of an elderly woman by a man claiming to work for Con Edison.

An 82-year-old resident reported to Yorktown Police this week that she had been contacted by a scammer claiming to represent Con Edison. During the call, police said that he has not received payments for several months, and the resident was in danger of having power shut off to the home.

Police said the scammer insisted that the woman “immediately” go to Walmart and purchase two $500 gift cards, which she did, though not before becoming suspicious of the circumstances. However, the woman contacted her son, who called the Yorktown Police Department and determined that the incident was part of an ongoing scam.

The phone call and scammer are currently under investigation, police said. No suspect has been identified by police.

“If you believe that you or a loved one are the victims of a scam, call your local police department immediately,” police said. “Don't be embarrassed to call, as scams are attempted 24/7/365. Even if we can't make an arrest, we can spread the word - while protecting your identity - so that other hard working and decent people can know what is going on in the community.